Biography
He began performing at the tender age of five (5) years old. Sheldon - band leader, an accomplished composer, arranger, singer and musician, has accumulated an extensive collection of work delivered in his family’s trademark style “Jamoo”. Considered one of the most promising talents to come out of Trinidad and Tobago in recent times, his rich and varied rhythms, the feeling in his music, and lyrics that expounds understanding of the crises, hopes and visions of the masses makes him popular among the youth.
Mature audiences appreciate the relevant content of his material, the range of his messages and the originality of delivery of his music. Sheldon Blackman has been called “ artiste extraordinaire” by both peers and critics, his musical style described as unique and haunting.
His delivery is dynamic and powerful and immediately brings to mind international artistes such as Sting, Eddy Grant and Bob Marley. Well known in the Caribbean and the Caribbean Diaspora internationally, this young performer has been on the cutting edge of the musical culture and has performed in the USA, performing in New York, Washington D.C., North Carolina and Atlanta. In the UK, appearing in venues in London like Cargo, Momo's and performances during the Nothing Hill Carnival. He was also chosen to represent Trinidad and Tobago at “Edutainment a multicultural exchange program held in Oslo, Norway first in 98 then in 2001 and 2002. In 2006 Sheldon was invited to perfom during Afrikan History Week and the great Mela festival in Norway.
Ever the community activist his enormous talents was put to use by the United Nations when the organisation used the song “Blessed are the Elders” as the theme song for the International Year of the Elderly in 1999. This exercise was so successful that the United Nations International Drug Control Program has decided to use a re-mixed version of the Ras Shorty I and the Love Circle composition “ Watch Out My Children” with Sheldon joining his father in lead vocals, as their theme song internationally for 2001 and beyond.
Sheldon re-launched his debut album “Remember Me” which is now Remember Me Reloaded in 2004!! A restyled and more technically sophisticated product. In his own words, “This means Remember Me has been re-designed, re-structured re-mastered, re-packaged, re-vitalized, re-launched. Some songs have even be ‘removed’- some have be introduced… This is Reloaded.”
In 2005 another CD project emerged, Kush-The Mixtape with the “R.I.S.E Project” (a cultural group linked to the resource center Afrikan Youth In Norway).
“Soca Nation” is the latest project, which was conceived after the “Soca Warriors’“, Trinidad and Tobago’s National Football team, victory over Bahrain and gave T&T for the first time ever an entry ticket to the FIFA World Cup!!
The title track, “Soca Nation”, is inspired by the old inter college football chants, written by David Rubin and music composed by Geraldine Connor. Sheldon was invited to spearhead this project, lending his voice and flavour to the title song. Being the son of the man who invented Soca music and coined the word “SOCA” it was of special relevance that he sing the tribute song to the “Soca Warriors”!At present Sheldon is in the process of working on another album project, which is due to be released in 2007. This is expected to brake new musical ground and dimensions for this artist who in some ways have come of age.
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